The officials for the play-off final have been confirmed.
Southampton face Leeds United at Wembley on Sunday in the Championship play-off final to determine which of the two sides will secure a return to the Premier League at the first attempt.
Russell Martin‘s have the psychological edge of knowing they have already beat Leeds twice this season; most recently just three weeks ago.
However, Daniel Farke’s Leeds will be full of confidence having won their semi-final 4-0 and have the luxury of wearing their home colours whilst Southampton will line-up in their third kit.
VAR will be in operation on the day despite not being in use in any other Championship fixtures this season and the man in charge at Stockley Park will be remembered for a significant decision in Nathan Jones’ final game in charge.
Simon Gillet on VAR duty for Southampton v Leeds
The man in the middle on Sunday has been confirmed by the EFL as John Brooks, with the referee having officiated 22 Premier League games this season, as well as three European fixtures according to Transfermarkt.
Brooks will be assisted by linesmen Simon Bennet and Dan Robathan, with Tony Harrington on fourth official duty.
As mentioned, VAR will be in place at Wembley as it has been for the League One and Two play-off finals.
Whilst many football fans are not keen on VAR given the time it takes, lack of clarity and perception that it has actually hindered decision making, it would be heartbreaking to miss out on the Premier League for an incorrect decision.
The appointment of note is Jarred Gillet in the VAR room, as he was the referee who oversaw the last game in the reign of Jones that Southampton fans are so desperate to forget.
Simon Gillet responsible for previous Southampton controversy
Jones’ stay at Southampton was a brief one, with the Welshman lasting just eight Premier League games before being sacked in February 2023 having replaced Ralph Hasenhuttl prior to the winter World Cup in November.
Gillet refereed Jones’ final game, a home defeat to Wolves, which was controversial due to a second yellow card given to former Saint Mario Lemina in the first-half.
Southampton had taken the lead at St Mary’s and Lemina was on a booking when he was not given a free-kick that he and his teammates felt they should have.
Two Wolves players ran towards the referee to protest, with Lemina then joining them and Gillet decided that warranted a second yellow card in just the 27th minute; the other two Wolves players escaping punishment.
Speaking after the game, then Wolves captain explained that Gillet had told him the second card was because Lemina was the third player to approach the referee, telling BBC Sport: “You really want to know what he told me? So, he told me there were two players running to him and because Mario was the third one, he gave him a yellow card.
“So, now we go and check the rules, if there is any.”
“But if he wanted to give a yellow card, he can give it to me or Joao [Moutinho]. We were the first ones running to him.”
Ironically, Southampton went on to lose the game despite playing the best part of 60 minutes with an extra man and having the lead when Wolves received the red card in a game the summed up Jones’ short spell at the club.